Pentagon accelerates AI use as commanders warn, Anthropic sues

The U.S. military is accelerating its integration of artificial intelligence into operations, a push championed by senior Pentagon leadership but met with caution from some military commanders over the risks of autonomous weapons and the need for human control. This expansion has also sparked disputes with technology companies concerned about ethical safeguards.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is a leading advocate for rapidly evolving military capabilities through AI. He has stated the Pentagon should be able to deploy the technology in any legal way it sees fit, emphasizing systems that operate without what he termed ideological constraints. In a January speech, Hegseth said he would reject AI models that would not allow the military to fight wars effectively.

This drive has led to new agreements with several major technology firms. The Defense Department announced deals with companies including Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Nvidia, OpenAI, and SpaceX to use their AI services in classified and non-classified settings. Officials said the technology is intended to augment warfighter decision-making in complex environments.

However, the push has encountered notable...